|
Surgeon General's Call to Action |
|
|
|
|
The holidays are a festive time of year with numerous work functions and social gatherings which always involve lots of food and heavy desserts. So, in a post-turkey, pre-new-year kind of way some of us might be thinking about that New Year's resolution or the Post-holiday diet we will be embarking upon. Need a little more inspiration to get the family on a body nutrient diet? How about the fact that a study recently estimated that over 50% of children in North and South America will be overweight or obese by 2010! Here are some of the Surgeon General's Health Consequences for Childhood Obesity and the Benefits of Weight Loss: IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT THE FOLLOWING ARE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES:
- Risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol and
high blood pressure, occur with increased frequency in overweight
children and adolescents compared to those with a healthy weight.
- Type
2 diabetes, previously considered an adult disease, has increased
dramatically in children and adolescents. Overweight and obesity are
closely linked to type 2 diabetes.
- Overweight adolescents
have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. This
increases to 80% if one or more parent is overweight or obese.
- The most immediate consequence of overweight, as perceived by children themselves, is social discrimination.
THE BENEFITS OF WEIGHT LOSS
- Weight loss, as modest as 5 to 15% of total body weight in a
person who is overweight or obese, reduces the risk factors for some
diseases, particularly heart disease.
- Weight loss can result in lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar, and improved cholesterol levels.
- A
person with a Body Mass Index (BMI) above the healthy weight range* may
benefit from weight loss, especially if he or she has other health risk
factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking,
diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle, and a personal and/or family history
of heart disease.
|
Communication 
